CUSHING — Thirty-five to forty minutes after emergency crews were called to a one-vehicle crash in Cushing, Tuesday, July 22, chaos briefly filtered through the scene.

At approximately 1:40 p.m., a portion of snapped utility pole reportedly fell on a worker who was helping to replace it with a new pole.

Cushing Fire Dept. and Ambulance, along with Knox County Sheriff’s deputies, had been called to 36 Hathorne Point Road at 12:59 p.m., where a vehicle had struck a pole, snapping it in half, which pulled wires to the ground and across the road. The single occupant reported to be uninjured, according to Fire Chief Clarence Flanders.

Following the crash, the road was closed due to the wires; however AutoMaster arrived on scene to haul away the car, and Central Maine Power Company set to work at its task. Emergency crews were still either directing traffic or wrapping up interactions with the driver when suddenly all eyes were on the pole site, and medical treatment was being rendered before rushing a new patient to the hospital.

Chief Flanders was not in the vicinity of the accident when it occurred and therefore didn’t witness the circumstances leading to the fallen portion of pole. As of 2 p.m., details were being confirmed offsite by the deputies.

Hathorne Point Road, which is a dead-end road, was closed for approximately an hour, according to Flanders, and then reopened to one lane afterwards. Despite the driver and the car having left the scene, the three Cushing firefighters maintained their positions as traffic controllers.

“They've got enough to do right now," said Flanders. "We’re not going to leave them shorthanded."

Power was restored by 4:15 p.m., and firefighters cleared the scene at that time.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com